Help Slurring?

[Eaglesaurus]

Hi, I'm in highschool and such. I started playing last August, and I've been doing really good. The only thing that I just can't seem to play is almost any note slurred up to a bottom line G/Gb (and in some instances, first space A/Ab).

Can anyone give me some tips? Is this a common issue, or am I just weird?
I've tried buzzing of course, but any additional tips would be very much appreciated.

[Eaglesaurus]

What's your band teacher say?

I haven't asked him.. he's rather mad at me ;D

[Mark]

Hi, I'm in highschool and such. I started playing last August, and I've been doing really good. The only thing that I just can't seem to play is almost any note slurred up to a bottom line G/Gb (and in some instances, first space A/Ab).

Can anyone give me some tips? Is this a common issue, or am I just weird?
I've tried buzzing of course, but any additional tips would be very much appreciated.

Is this a BBb tuba? That particular harmonic break makes slurring from F to Gb hard on a BBb. Practice slurring very slowly from F to Gb and from F to G making the slur as smooth as possible. As the slur gets smoother, gradual speed up the slur while keeping it smooth.

[swillafew]

Play music you already know, easy music, as legato as you can. If you are not sure how to do that, ask somebody to demonstrate.

[hbcrandy]

There are several things to consider when working on slurring.

- First and foremost, have a lot of air ready to execute the slur.

- Next, hear the pitch from which your slurring and your destination pitch in your head. This is best prepared in the practice room by playing the two pitches with the tounge then singing the two pitches with out an attack on the second pitch.

- Then, on the tuba with a lot of air available, start the first note with the tounge forming your mouth to the syllable "OH". Then go to the second note, keeping the air moving, with no attack thinking the syllable "EEE". The second note should speak cleanly.

I summary, my recommendation is as follows: AIR, TOE EEE. with the air moving from the beginning of TOE through to the EEE with no break in the moving air column. I hope this helps.

[Michael Bush]

keeping the air moving,

For me, this is the key to the whole thing. I am tempted to restrict the air flow because of some crazy mental trick that leads me to think it is easier to make the shift with less pressure, but it doesn't work in truth. Blow right through the slur.

[Art Hovey]

Here's another approach that has worked for me: If a slur is difficult I put a little tongue on it. At first it's a "Toe-Toe-Toe", then make it a more legato tongue, i.e. "Doh-Doh-Doh". After practicing that for a few days I gradually use less and less tongue, so that it just almost flicks the top of my mouth without actually making contact. If they can't hear you tonguing then it will pass for a slur.